Life Changing: Fiscal cliffs, mitigation plans, school shooting

Sunday

Dec 16, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 16, 2012 at 4:04 PM

It’s not easy keeping one’s focus on the silliness that we called politics in the midst of a school shooting where early reports indicate as many as 18 elementary school children are among the 27 fatalities

RAY HACKETT

It’s not easy keeping one’s focus on the silliness that we called politics in the midst of a school shooting where early reports indicate as many as 18 elementary school children are among the 27 fatalities.
Who makes that kind of decision, that kind of choice that will have such an impact on so many lives going forward?
Early indications suggest that the children were not the intended target, just innocents in the wrong place at the wrong time. But how do we wrap our minds around the concept of a school being the “wrong place” for youngsters?
I was scanning various news stories and reports regarding the pending fiscal cliff, gathering information that eventually would allow me to craft a fresh commentary on the issue, when the first reports of the shooting stated coming in. I was also reading about the impact the governor’s recessions were having on nonprofits bracing for the next round of cuts the Legislature is anticipated to make later this week as part of deficit mitigation plan.
I was looking for a new angle that would allow me to offer some fresh thoughts on both for this week’s column.
And then the politics of fiscal cliffs and budget deficits didn’t seem to be that important.
Senseless, unthinkable and shocking events have a way of putting things into perspective. The political principles upon which a political crisis is built came into focus, the pettiness of the bickering and the political jockeying for the upper-hand clearly in view.
The so-called fiscal cliff can be solved right now, and without the political drama. Those actors on the national stage know exactly what needs to be done, and why it needs to be done. The only thing missing is for them to do it.
The same can be said of the hand-wrangling in Hartford over the painful choices that need to be made.
It takes only an admission that revenues projections were overstated based on underestimated expectations of a more speedy economic recovery. There was no hidden agenda, no deception in play.
There was optimism and hope that the plan would work, and to a large degree it has — but not enough.
And like the situation in Washington, the solution in Hartford is just as clear. Those crafting the next course of action know what needs to be done — they just need to do it.
In Washington this week, the lame duck House and Senate sessions will hopefully vote on a compromise proposal that is anticipated to be reached to avoid the adverse fiscal ramifications of going over the fiscal cliff.
Lawmakers only need to know this truth: That is the job they were elected to do, and it’s about time they did it.
In Hartford, it’s called a special session where sitting legislators — some who will return next month for the next session and some who will not — will vote on a mitigation plan that the administration and legislative leaders from both sides have agreed upon.
That, too, is the job they were elected to do, and it’s time they did their job as well.
This is not rocket science. It is politics, pure and simple.
And although I am a fan of the game, and enjoy watching the different political strategies play out, on this Friday afternoon as I write this column, none of it seems very important in light of the circumstances at an elementary school.
But it is nonetheless.
Because as sad as this day is, life goes on, and these political decisions and the choices that will be made will also impact people’s lives going forward.
Ray Hackett is The Bulletin’s editorial page editor. He has more than 20 years covering Connecticut politics. He can be reached at (860) 425-4225 or rhackett@norwichbulletin.com.